Indiana motorcyclists have a great state to ride through with plenty of scenic views, open roads, and great weather to enjoy. But unfortunately, if a time comes when that motorcyclist gets into an accident with another vehicle on the road, they'll likely be the ones walking away with worse injuries.
Motorcycles have much less cover than cars do, which means a motorcyclist risks taking damage directly to their body. Ride Apart lists off the body parts that a motorcyclist is most likely to injure if they get into a crash. Generally speaking, the lower and upper extremities are the ones that take the most damage. This includes the legs and feet for lower, and the hands and arms for upper. Reportedly, up to 30 percent of non-fatal motorcycle injuries affected the rider's lower extremities. Head and neck injuries took second place, coming in at 22 percent of the total non-fatal injuries.
As for common injuries themselves, LiveStrong has stated that head injuries and road rash are the two most common motorcyclist injuries by far. Road rash occurs when the skin of the victim rubs against asphalt or concrete, and it can be severe enough to require skin grafting to fix. Road rash can cover large portions of the body as well, leading to other complications like infections or scarring. Head injuries can be lethal if the rider is not wearing a helmet. Whiplash and concussions may still occur even with the use of a helmet.
Overall, riding a motorcycle is enjoyable enough that most motorcyclists will continue to do so even knowing the risks. But being aware of those risks and the situations that may contribute to them can help riders to avoid having to deal with these painful injuries.